No charges in Clemmons’ slaying; Satterberg praises officer

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg announced Tuesday that his office will not be filing criminal charges against a Seattle police officer who shot and killed purported cop killer Maurice Clemmons in December.

The move, essentially a formality, followed last week’s ruling by an inquest jury that Officer Benjamin Kelly faced an “imminent threat” when he gunned down Clemmons.

At the time, the jury found, Clemmons was armed with a pistol taken from one of four Lakewood Police Department officers who were shot to death Nov. 29 at a coffee shop. Kelly fired seven rounds at Clemmons, striking him four times.

“Seattle Police Officer Benjamin Kelly was performing his duty as a police officer when he responded to Maurice Clemmons with deadly force,” Satterberg said in a statement. “Clemmons was a danger to Kelly, other members of law enforcement and the general public.

“Officer Kelly should be recognized for his courage in response to a dangerous situation.”